The History of The Isle of Man TT brought to you by IofM.Net - Page 3 History 3 TT Festival Fortnight - 27th May to 9th June: Steam Packet Road Races - 10th June: Southern 100 - 10th to 13th July: Manx Rallies - National in May and International in September: Manx Hill Climb - At Various Times During The Summer : Cycling Festival - June : Manx Grand Prix - 19th August - 1st September: Classic Car Races - 18th - 24th September: Brought to you in collaboration with The Department of Tourism and Leisure Reproduced from August 1965 CycleWorld Magazine. Where to spectate ? Well they say there are over two hundred bends so it becomes very much a matter of personal choice and must be governed by transport or the lack of it. But remember that just as interesting as the races themselves are the weigh-in procedures that take place the day before each race in the grandstand area on the Glencrutchery Road. The term weigh-in , by the way, is a throwback from the early days of racing when the machines actually were weighed.

There you can see your favorite rider fairly closely and maybe get and autograph or two. A very different proposition from race day when, within a mile of the start, he will be hurtling down Bray Hill at over one hundred miles an hour. So if you like sheer speed then go to the bottom of Bray Hill where the bikes are doing about a hundred and thirty as they aim between the curb and drain cover if on the proper racing line. Then comes the slow right-hander at the Quarter Bridge, always crowded and very popular, which in turn is followed after a short straight by Braddan Bridge where the left and right sweeps over the bridge give one of the best opportunities to study riding styles. Then on and out through Union Mills and Crosby until just after five miles the Highlander is reached, a flat-out section now very smooth where a 250 Yamaha has been timed at over 140 mph.

At Ballacraine the course turns right and enters the difficult Laurel Bank and Glen Helen sections, also difficult from the spectating point of view, then climbs up Creg Willey's hill onto the Cronk y Voddee straight, on past the eleventh milestone, Handley's Cottage, and then to one of the most exciting points the circuit has to offer-Baaregarroo. At the bottom of the hill is a flat-out left-hander and from here, if you have your own transport, it is possible to drive to the 32nd milestone up on the mountain while the race is on. From Baaregarroo the course goes on to Kirkmichael until at the seventeenth mile point Ballaugh Bridge is reached. An excellent point to watch and 1965 may be the last time that the riders leave the ground as they take the humped-back bridge, for the Highway authority wants to flatten the bridge. Three miles later comes two of the best spectating points less than half a mile apart, Sulby Bridge and Ginger Hall, the later offering particularly good opportunity to the budding photographer. So to Ramsey with its crowded square and famous hairpin leading up to Waterworks corner.

Then the long climb up the mountains with the Gooseneck offering a fabulous view back over Ramsey Bay and a nasty, slow right-hander that finished Phil Read's senior ride in 1961 when he dropped it there when lying fourth, having won the junior race earlier in the week. The mountain section is over nine miles long and ends in spectacular fashion with the plunge down from Kates Cottage to Creg ny Baa. A good spot this, for plenty of coaches go there from Douglas and it is possible to walk up to the Keppel Gate and see a bit of the mountain section. The one mile stretch from the Creg to Brandish is possibly the fastest section of the course and leads to Hillberry, a fast right-hander that can be a heart stopper for rider and spectator alike. Now it is less than two miles to the finish past Signpost corner and Bedstead to the ever popular Governor's Bridge where riders are slipping the clutch in bottom gear around the hairpin and through the dip before the short stretch along the Glencrutchery Road to the finish.

If you stay at the grandstand throughout the race then you see the pit stop dramas and have the leader board in front of you to tell the race story as it proceeds. By Friday you will have made up your own mind just where you want to see the 500's. For by then the atmosphere will have grown on you and you will have realized that the Isle of Man is a tradition. Whether you arrive by boat and see the two mile sweep of Douglas Bay with Snaefell dominating the mountains in the background, or by plane and run into Douglas on the airport bus and hear the conductor mutter a greeting in Manx tongue to the little folk as he raises his cap at the Fairy Bridge, you will sense here is somewhere refreshingly different. Tail-less cats, horse-drawn toast rack trams and an "olde worlde" narrow gauge railway are all part of an Island steeped in history.

The races are adding to that history with the names they have given to parts of that thirty-seven miles: Doran's Bend, Handley's Cottage, Birkin's Bend, the Thirty-third and Brandish are now almost as much a part of Manxland as names like Ballagarey, Cronk y Voddee, Snaefell and Druidale. This is just as it should be, for nowhere else in the world is there a course which offers such a challenge to man and machine. Interview: John McGuinness and the Isle of Man TT Interview: John McGuinness and the Isle of Man TT 06/10/2016 @ 12:58 am, by Tony Goldsmith 7 COMMENTS John McGuinness is the winningest active TT racer at the Isle of Man, and has been competing at the iconic race for the past 20 years. Once a teammate to Joey Dunlop, McGuinness is creeping up on the legend’s overall TT race wins, with just three more needed to tie Dunlop’s mark. This makes him a formidable rider in any of the TT’s solo-class races, and it also makes him a walking encyclopedia of the Manx circuit.

At the end of the Isle of Man TT practice week, our man Tony Goldsmith managed to grab some time with 23-time TT winner John McGuinness, who gave us some insight into how he prepares for the challenges of riding the Snaefell Mountain Course, and what the TT is like from his eyes. We think you’ll enjoy what McGuinness has to say about racing at the Isle of Man, and gain some insight into what it like to compete at this iconic event. Enjoy! -JB Tony Goldsmith – I imagine the TT is on your mind a lot, but when does the serious preparation start? John McGuinness – We had a private Honda test in Monteblanco in March so that’s probably when it starts getting serious. But I never stop thinking about it. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is or what the weather’s like. You never really stop. You go to bike shows. You’re always chatting about things, speaking with Dunlop tires or with Honda. What’s new, what can we do, how can we make it better? There’s always a chat show to do, which reminds you of it. It never really goes away.

As far as training goes, and all the rituals, I don’t really have any. I should do a little bit of training, but I just go out and ride the enduro bike and mini bike. Just try and keep myself in some sort of shape. I get a lot of stick about it and rightly so probably. I don’t mind a pie and a bit of gravy. Sometimes it’s frowned upon these days. I get it. They want me a bit sharper. They’re putting all the investment in and all the work. But, I think it’s important you’re happy and working with the right people. I make sure I’m working with Julian my mechanic. I’ve been with him a long time, and we’ve had a lot of success together. TG – Is the Northwest 200 the first serious test before the TT? JM – Definitely. It’s an important event. It’s the first chance to test the bike’s reliability and speed. I also get to find out if I can still do it. Is the old body up to it? Do I still have the passion to do it?

We had the test at Monteblanco in Spain, two days at Castle Combe, and we did the World Endurance round at Le Mans. But nothing can prepare you for going round York Corner and up to the Ballysally roundabout at 200 mph. You’re not feeding yourself into it. It’s just full gas straight away. You also get an idea about the competition, who’s gone where and who’s doing what. A few guys moving to different manufacturers makes it interesting. I’m probably a little bit boring as I’m Honda through and through really. Most of my success has been with Honda. The race we had this year, Michael Dunlop made the break, but I didn’t think the rest of them had anything on me, so I felt a bit more confident coming to the TT. TG – I feel for the organisers of the North West as riders regularly refer to the TT during interviews. JM – It’s obviously an important event for everybody. There’s a lot of kudos for winning. It’s a big International meeting and people want to win. When the Superbike race was going on this year nobody was thinking about taking it easy. Everyone wants to win or get on the podium.

It was a full-on, flat-out, wheel-to-wheel stuff. I don’t think anybody was too worried about the TT at that time. TG – Once you get back from the North West, you’ve got a bit of time at home. What would you do at that stage? Is it time to relax or is it full-on? JM – I didn’t have any time to relax. I had a two day test at Castle Combe on the electric bike, and I had Dunlop round doing a film about road tires. After that I was preparing for the TT, getting a lot of things ready for the exhibition we’ve got here, it was pretty hectic but it soon goes by. I like to try and get family time. I’ve got two kids and a family, so I try to do as much as I can with them. That’s why they’re here. That’s important as well. TG – When you arrive on the island do you take in any laps to see if anythings changed? JM – No. You can do 20 laps in a car and you don’t get the feeling of the bumps or jumps.

You may pick up that a section has been resurfaced, but you don’t know properly until you ride it. Going round in a car at 30 mph is useless. TG – Do they tell you if an area has been resurfaced? JM – You get told in the riders’ briefings. This year they painted some new white lines through Sarah’s Cottage. William Dunlop fell off and I nearly fell off on them. There were lots of complaints about them. The organisers had the lines burned off and it’s fine now. You could drive around in the car and you wouldn’t have a clue. They do little tweaks here and there, but sometimes the tweaks don’t necessarily make it any better. The Sulby Straight is really bumpy now. I used to get a rest down there, but now it just pummels the shite out of you all the way down. TG – Do you have a routine that you normally follow in terms of practice, or do you just see how the bikes are when you get out there? JM – You can’t make predications or a plan, really. This year’s been probably the only year that it’s been like this in the 20 years I’ve been racing at the TT.

There’s normally interruptions. I haven’t seen a cloud yet. It’s just unbelievable. Normally mist comes in and holds things up. Having great weather is actually a bit of double-edged sword because you’ve got to go faster each night and push, push, push. Do you really want to do that? Do you want to keep risking it in practice or save it for the race? Four to six laps every night is a lot of work. People don’t see that. I’m not tired, but I can feel it. It’s pulling away on my body. If you knew you were guaranteed this weather you could have Tuesday and Thursday off. But then again it’s not fair on the newcomers. They need all the track time they can get, but I’m ready to go. TG – Has the continuity with Honda and the Fireblade been important to you? JM – Yes. You need a balance of stability, reliability, and confidence in your bike. The other manufactures have caught up now. There’s been two or three evolutions with the other manufactures. I still have the same bike from 2008. Sometimes it’s frustrating. Bruce Anstey won the Superbike race last year. I won the Senior last year.

So I can’t say I have an argument. It’s still a good package. Look at the results TG – Obviously you’re a normal family man. When you get here you’re treated like a rockstar. How do you deal with that? JM – It’s alright for a few days, then you just want a little bit of downtime, and you can’t get it. It’s difficult at times. I like the fans. I like the people. I like everything about it, but sometimes it just gets on top of you a little. It’s like you’re a hero for two weeks and then go back home and back to normal. It is overwhelming at times. You’re like, Jesus, just calm down. Yesterday it got on top of me a bit. Sometimes you say the wrong thing. You may have signed 300 autographs, but you’ve only got to say no to one person and you’re an asshole. It’s difficult to try and balance, but I try my best. Like today I’ve got this interview, then I’ve got a bus tour with Honda, and I’ve got to scrub my tires in for the race. My day’s written off.

TG – Is it like that almost every day or do you get some time off? TG – Most days, yes. I get a bit more time off in race week. Sometimes it knocks the enjoyment out of it. It’s a beautiful island and you want to just go and sneak off for two or three hours. Go and have an ice cream, and not see a motor bike for an hour or two. The paddock’s so intense, and it’s so much bigger and busier than when I started 20 years ago. Nobody really stayed and worked in the paddock. Most of the people were in private garages out of the paddock. You’d bring your bike up in a van and off you’d go. But it’s still a great atmosphere. I’ll enjoy it more when I retire and I can walk around myself and get a sticker. Get my radio on and go on and watch the racing. I’m still a fan. Sometimes I go out to watch if I can, and I’m just waiting for the bikes to come. Somebody’s in my ear talking I’m like, watch the bikes. Why are you talking to me? I’ve been out to watch sidecar races after our races. It still blows me away.

You’re still watching the race. That’s the main bit. TG – Speaking of sidecars, do you think Michael Dunlop will ever have a go at sidecar racing? JM – I don’t know. He’s on fire on the solos at the moment, so he’d be mad to think about tinkering with them. I know he’s had a bit of a go and he’ll race at Scarborough. I wouldn’t be thinking about it if I were him. I would be concentrating on two wheels – but the kid’s got talent. It’s running through him. He’s got balls of steel as well as a big heart. I like him, but I couldn’t do what he does; he’s on spanners as well. I couldn’t do that. I don’t know how to do all that. But he’s an all around package. He’s a lot better short-circuit rider than anybody gives him any credit for as well. Joey was a good rider on short circuits, but he was never known for that. TG – This is your 20th anniversary of racing at the TT. Has the event changed a lot from when you started? JM – I think so, yeah.

The media coverage tends to focus on the spectacle and positives, as well as the great champions it’s produced. I don’t think they look as much at the danger side of it anymore. People are loving the TV coverage. It’s in everybody’s front room, and you can watch it the same evening. It’s all over social media. If you’re not here you can be with us anyway. In the past people would listen to the radio commentary and wait for MCN to come out, and that’s probably the only time you’d see it. TG – The weather this week has been amazing. The track conditions must be very good. JM – It’s the best I’ve ever seen it. You can see the rubber down on the road and the racing lines. If you’re caught behind somebody you’re not getting peppered with stones. It’s hot but the tar’s not melting. It’s in good shape. The low sun during practice is tricky. The way it comes through the trees is difficult, it’s like strobe lighting in a nightclub. TG – Does it improve once you get out to Ballacraine as you no longer heading west? JM – It does. Once you turn right at Ballacraine it’s a lot better.

Practice week is challenging as the temperatures are up and down. Up on the mountain it gets cold. The shadow comes across the mountain from around the Bungalow, then you come back into the sun again. So it’s tricky. It’s different during the race as the sun’s a lot higher. But that’s the TT, isn’t it? TG – You’ve obviously got the section of course named after you and people ask you a lot about your favourite bits. Are there any bits that you don’t like? JM – Last year one of my sponsors, EMC hooked me up to heart rate monitors to gather data on me when I’m on the bike. The data showed my heart rate goes up a lot at Parliament Square of all places. Parliament Square, May Hill, Whitegates, Stella Maris, and Ramsey Hairpin. I’m pretty weak through them. I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s the bumps, or maybe it’s because my chain snapped there a few years ago. I don’t know. I’ve been working a lot on that this year, to try and chill out a bit on those bits of the circuit and just ride them.

They’re not hard bits of track, it’s just stop, start, stop, start. As soon I get round the Gooseneck, I seem to settle down again. But you can’t afford to be like that anywhere. There’s a few bits like the Nook and Governor’s dip, they’re not much fun. I quite like the real rough sections to Ramsey from Ginger Hall. It’s the roughest bit of road in the history of motor bike racing, period. You have to let the bike dance around underneath you and do what it needs to do. But we don’t moan about it. A bump arrives somewhere else on the track and we’re all screaming, but it’s just part of the track. TG – Did you get good value out of the EMC data from last year? JM – It was interesting to see how my heart rate was affected and the difference with Chad (Adam Child from MCN). He’s working a lot harder than me. I’m a lot more relaxed on the bike. He was definitely overworking it. But I suppose we’re all different, aren’t we? I’ve trained myself to be more relaxed.

That’s probably why I’m old and fat, but I still can do it because I’m using just enough energy. I eat the food I like when I like. People monitor their food intake and eat at certain times – I just do whatever I want. So the EMC data was interesting, but there’s no secrets. Hutchy trains like mad. He’s super human fit. If you feel the need to do that, then that’s what you need to do. If I walk into a gym, I’m immediately pissed off. I don’t like the gym regime at all. It’s just not my thing. I’ll ride my enduro bike till I drop. I do a little bit of walking and enjoy being outside. The gym regime doesn’t work for me. A happy rider’s a fast rider after all. TG – Do you have a routine from the end of practice to when the flag drops on the first race? JM – No. You can’t. By the time we get finished tonight, I’ll be the last one out on the electric bike. By the time you get out of there you’ll be buzzing your head off. Then there’ll be a chat and a debrief. You’re knackered.

Tense, nervous energy all day. Then it’s all hands on deck on the bikes. It will be chaos in the morning. As soon as you get up there’ll be a signing session which will just be absolutely nuts. Last year there were hundreds of people fighting and scrapping to get an autograph. It was just outrageous. TG – How do you find the grid before the start of a race? It’s always looked to me that there are too many people on there. JM – It’s chaos, isn’t it. All the sponsors and VIPs. I don’t mind all that, though. I’ll just leave them to it and try and get through to my bike. Some riders will listen to music. To me, that would just drive me mad. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than something in my ear rattling away in my head before I get on the bike. I just want peace and quiet. Give Beckie (John’s wife) a cuddle, chuck my penny down my leathers, or whatever we found through the week, and get going.

Photos: © 2016 Tony Goldsmith / – All Rights Reserved Tony Goldsmith is an Isle of Man based freelance motorcycle racing photographer specialising in MotoGP and the Isle of Man TT races. His website can be found at . He can also be found on Facebook and Twitter . Top 5 Related Posts: Great interview, Tony. MrDefo Glad to hear that my workout regime of eating steak and drinking beer can still pay off when it’s time to race. Ur Momma Testament to the theory superior fitness can only take you so far. zion “old and fat”….. there’s hope for me yet! Alclab Always interesting, such a simple man, yet super talented and still motivated to risk it all for the glory of the TT. Isle of Man TT 2016 Spectator Guide | Regency Travel | iomttbreaks.com - IOM TT Breaks Where to watch the Isle of Man TT We have put together a spectator guide the Isle of Man's world famous TT course. No other circuit in the world compares to the 37 mile plus Mountain Course with its never-ending bends, bumps, jumps, stone walls, manhole covers and telepgraph poles.

Fast speeds of up to 200mph can leave you breathless and we have put a series of great places to watch from for visitors new and old. The course has many places where you can stand or sit in a hedge watching free of charge or you can purchase a seat in a fanzone or Grandstand. Whatever you choose we are sure you will have a day to remember! Get a Grandstand View! Fanzone seating is available in 3 spectacular locations around the TT course, each offering unrivalled views, dedicated parking, public conveniences and live commentary. So whether you are seeking a magnificent view of pitlane, or wish to see the top riders fly through the air, push the tyres to the limit or entertain you with monster wheelies, we have a seat with your name on it. Granstand/Noble's Park Great venue for soaking up the TT atmosphere with scoreboards and elevated tiered seating for approx 1,050 spectators. Good views of start and finish with the fastest riders hitting over 160mph as they complete their laps plus the frantic activity of riders making their pitstops. In Noble's Park the stone wall provides a good low level view of start, finish and riders leaving the pits.

You can also get close as the bikes make their way back through the park after finishing. You can purchase tickets for this grandstand on all race days, the Grandstand is within the TT VIllage in Nobles Park, Douglas. You will also find the TT Paddock, Nobles Park Fanzone and the Official VIP Suite here. Call us to purchase tickets. St Ninians Competitors approach down Glencrutchery Road from the Grandstand and become airborne as they pass through the junction. You can spectate from both sides of the road but viewing is best from St Andrew's Churchyard or St Ninian's High School playing fields. Bray Hill Spectacular and very fast, the leading riders only shutting off slightly at the bottom before accelerating down Quarterbridge Road. Lancaster Road, Hildesley Road and Malvern Road offer limited viewing.The bottom of Bray Hill has great views of the riders accelerating away over Ago's leap. Quarterbridge Quarterbridge is a very popular place. There are two good vantage points here, one directly outside the pub, the other is the grassy embankment on the corner. Riders can be seen taking the sharp right hand bend and then accelerating away towards Braddan Bridge.

Braddan Bridge Braddan Grandstand has seating for approx 400 spectators giving an excellent view of the S-bend, or you can spectate from the Church grounds on the exit of Braddan Bridge. A small charge is made for entrance to both the Grandstand and the Church grounds. There is also limited viewing from the Old Braddan Church yard. Union Mills Very popular, Union Mills offers three good vantage points. The Railway Inn on the outside of the course has an elevated beer garden which has a great view of the approach. On the inside of the course you can watch from the Church Hall or the Memorial Hall - get there early! Crosby Village Very fast section of the course leading on from Glen Vine, Crosby is a straight stretch of road which gently rises uphill before dropping down towards the Highlander. The Hawthorn Another fast section of the course just after Greeba Castle and Greeba Bridge. Viewing is only from The Hawthorn side of the road as you see the competitors exit Greeba Bridge and head on towards Gorselea and Ballacraine. Ballacraine After a very fast seven miles Ballacraine is a tight right hand corner which takes the competitors on to the Glen Helen section of the course.

Best viewing is from the embankment opposite Ballacraine Farm. Glen Helen Glen Helen has good facilities and is also a radio commentary point. As well as being able to view from the roadside entrance, you can also spectate from behind the small wall up to the wooden fence after which it is clearly marked as a Prohibited Area. You can also climb up into the wooded area above for an elevated view of the action. Cronk Y Voddy From Sarah's Cottage to the Cronk y Voddy crossroads, the land either side of the course is mainly agricultural. You can watch from a number of spots but check with farmers and marshals before making yourself at home. Also remember the country code and please dispose of any litter responsibly. Barregarrow Spectacular and fast left hand curve at the top of Barregarrow. Get here early if you want to get a good spot to view from. On the inside of the course you can walk down to the bottom of Barregarrow but take note viewing is very limited. Douglas Road Corner & The Mitre Hotel From the junction you can see the approach to the right-hand bend into Kirk Michael.

There is viewing from the Mitre Hotel with less visibility but more beer and a great atmosphere, but you must get here before the roads close. Kirk Michael There are a few small spots for spectators in the Village itself including Whitehouse Park where there is a small charge on race days. Several side roads offer limited spectating opportunities. Ballaugh Bridge After getting airborne over the hump-backed bridge, the riders speed away through the village. Viewing is permitted from behind the barriers at both sides of the junction. The outside has better visibility while the inside has the Raven Hotel. From the Raven you can watch from the car park. Just through Ballaugh you will find Ballacrye fanzone which is located on a fast bend heading towards Quarry Bends. Call us to reserve tickets for this stand. Quarry Bends Spectacular part of the course. Viewing from the Wildlife Park car park entrance is limited but very good. Please respect the Prohibited and Restricted Area signs. Sulby Crossroads At Sulby there's great high speed action as the bikes tear along the straight! Blink and you'll miss 'em. No shortage of refreshments here!

The Sulby Glen Hotel is a top TT venue with loads of atmosphere, good food and good beer. On the inside of the course hot pies, pasties and light refreshments are also available from Caley's store. Sulby Bridge Competitors approach flat out from Sulby village and brake hard for the tight right hand corner. Excellent views from the grandstand there and St Judes Road on the outside of the course and some parts of the hedge on the approach. Please respect Prohibited areas. On race days there is usually a marquee in the field that backs on to Sulby Bridge serving light refreshments, snacks, sandwiches etc. Ginger Hall Very popular spectator venue offering views of the approach from Sulby Bridge around the quick left hander and on towards the Kerrowmoar section of the course. Churchtown Excellent place to watch the racing from. Fast left hand corner, quite bumpy with a fair bit of overtaking. There is a small charge, which goes to a chosen motorcycle charity, for pedestrian access to the fields. From there you are able to take in the action from Churchtown all the way down to Sky Hill.

At Milntown there is a limited but spectacular viewing as competitors jump over the Glen Auldyn bridge and immediately have to negotiate a very fast right hand corner. Parliament Square, Ramsey Parliament Sqaure is a very popular place to spectate with loads of room and good views as the riders brake into the right-hander, accelerate accross the square and sweep out via a fast left-hander. Cruickshanks/May Hill Cruickshanks and May Hill is a superb viewing area. On the outside of the course, Parsonage Road gives a wide view of Cruickshanks and the rise up May Hill. Good viewing on May Hill itself on both the outside, Beaumont Road and Lheaney Road which is just before the left hand corner Whitegates, and inside with a great view from the end of the lane below Glen Elfin Road. Spectators can get to the inside of the course by crossing the footbridge situated in Close Woirrey, close to the old school. It's possible to get to the playground on the inside of Cruickshanks or back down to Parliament Square.

Ramsey Hairpin At the hairpin itself there's another radio commentary point relaying all the excitement as the riders negotiate the bend at the start of their climb up the Mountain. There's limited spectating from the grassy area on the inside of the bend. Gooseneck & Guthries A very popular vantage point, The Gooseneck is a tight right hander after the climb out of Ramsey. Good view of the competitors approaching from Tower Bends and braking hard for the corner. For those who are feeling energetic you can walk up to Guthrie's Memorial, an S-bend on the mountain climb which precedes the Mountain Mile. If there's a lull in the action sit back and take in the glorious views of the north of the Island, accross to the Cumbrian coast and Scotland. Bungalow The view from the Bungalow is one of the longest on the course, all the way from the exit of the Verandah to the entry into Brandywell, some 1.5 miles later. At the Bungalow you can cross the road using the footbridge to get a different perspective. Be prepared to wrap up, it can be quite cold! Please observe any prohibited and restricted areas.

Brandywell Good views of the riders accelerating up Hailwood Heights from the Bungalow. As the highest part of the course, Brandywell starts the descent of the Mountain section of the course towards the 32nd Milestone and Windy Corner. Keppel Gate and Kate's Great views on a spectacular section of the course. At Kepple Gate, view the competitors approaching from the 33rd and negotiating the left hand corner before dropping down to Kate's Cottage and the famous Creg ny Baa. The action is fast and spectacular. Creg ny Baa The Creg ny Baa is a very popular place to watch from. Spectacular action on one of the fastest parts of the course. Please note that there may well be a charge for spectating from the grandstands situated at the Creg. There is an official Fanzone located to the right of the pub and picture above, you can purchase tickets through Regency Travel call us. Hillberry A 200-seat grandstand at Hillberry gives a great view of the competitors coming down from Brandish through the fast right hander and on up to Cronk-ny-Mona.

There is a charge to view from the Grandstand during races, a lesser charge for practices. There is also limited viewing from behind the Road Closed barrier on the Little Mill junction. Signpost Corner Signpost is very popular and the private house owned by the Bullock family is open to the public on race days for a donation to the Helicopter Fund and other race charities. There are good views , from a great position, all the way down to the left hand Bedstead corner. Governor's Bridge Governor's Bridge is great for photographs as the riders slow right down for the tight right-hander. There was a new viewing area established at Governor's in 2009. Access to this area will be clearly marked. You can also spectate from the top of Victoria Road as the competitors exit Governor's Bridge dip. Glencrutcherry Road This area is within walking distance of the TT Grandstand. The playing fields next to Police Headquarters are a popular and spacious area to spectate from, with views of the competitors exiting Governor's Bridge and also the entrance to the pits and grandstand, but please be aware this is a helicopter landing site and access may be limited.

You can also watch from the inside of the course at First, Second or Third Avenue. Follow us ABTA MEMBERS AND ATOL HOLDERS ATOL PROTETCTION - Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed in this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) - We are Members of ABTA with membership number Y0024. ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA's Code of Conduct.

For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ. Tel: 020 3117 0500 or . Financial Protection . 2016 IOM TT BREAKS. All Rights Reserved Regency Travel Limited Registered office 64 Duke Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2AR. Registered in the Isle of Man. Registration number 121524C. VAT number 003173527. Website design & development by DotPerformance Classic TT and Manx GP » It's Only A Hill Classic TT and Manx GP by Ian Blue sky days on the Isle of Man means bikes and racing, we headed over for the re vamped Classic TT and Manx GP. Riding a motorbike on the circuit for the first time is a rather surreal experience, we’ve heard about it, we’ve watched the DVDs and the ITV4 coverage of the recent TT, we know the names of the corners and sections, although perhaps not in the right order, which is kinda crucial round here.

From Quarter Bridge up to Bradan, Union Mills, Ballagarey, Crosby and on to Laurel Bank and Glen Helen, you just don’t appreciate how dark it gets under the trees, or how steep the road starts climbing especially this early in the lap. Past Ginger Hall the road surface deteriorates, just how do they come through here at race pace without being tank slapped into some roadside furniture. Through Ramsey and Parliament Square you climb steeply to Ramsey Hairpin, the Waterworks and it’s the Gooseneck and the start of the mountain, the road opens, the trees are behind you, your vision picks up and you can start to use the whole road, traffic permitting! The Verandah, how does Conor Cummins ride past here every lap and not think what about what happened in 2010. The Bungalow and tram lines, over the top and round Kates for the thrash down to the Creg, I bottle pinning the throttle all the way down! We sometimes hear people describe the racers as mad, daft, far from it, they are very, very good at what they do and I doff my cap to anyone who races a bike round the Island.

We headed to Ballaugh Bridge to take in some of the the action, at 17 miles in riders are being dropped or caught and the sight of bikes braking for position to take the humpback is enthralling. We do witness an incident when 6 or 7 bikes approach, two bikes go down both riders hurt but appear to be ok in the overall scheme of things With various lines over the bridge, air time is pretty much guaranteed, Maria Costello on bike 93 would have been the first privateer home in the Classic 500 but for a last lap break down, the race was won by Ollie Linsdell who led from start to finish. Giacomo Agostini (number 9) is the most succesfull racer of all time, with 15 world titles, 122 GP wins and 10 TT victories, here he is recreating his 1967 race against Mike Hailwood, which he was leading until his chain broke. John Mcguinees takes the part of Hailwood on bike nu mber 4. The TT snubs its nose at technology and maintain tradition with the scoreboard updated by hand.

The bike show at Jurby sees the classics out in force, expensive and rare Brough Superiors rubbing shoulder with Laverdas, Vincents and Sunbeams. Watching the Formula 1 race from the balcony of the Creg, affords us views up to Kate’s Cottage, and away off downhill to Brandish. Michael Dunlop on number 3 leading the way to the flag despite a dodgy clutch and an oil leak, Cummins (10) on the Trident XR with GSXR11 power now they have changed the rules. The XRs interest me, I chat with the boys from Trident engineering who are running both GS thou and GSXR variants, slightly smaller that the Harris option, Dunlop take sthe win on one of their flavours The Tt For The Ordinary Bloke. | Page 2 | Ducati Forum The Tt For The Ordinary Bloke. Grandstand tickets = paddock though? Paddock is for me the exciting bit. Click to expand... Anyone can go into the paddock anyhow though, or is it different during race week to when we went in practice week?

2015 Scrambler Classic royalwithcream said: ↑ Anyone can go into the paddock anyhow though, or is it different during race week to when we went in practice week? Click to expand... It's different in race week, as I understand it you need grandstand tickets to enter the paddock during race week... and those are pretty spendy. It was pretty good fun during practice week seeing the various teams setting up their areas and saw most of the name riders bobbing about one day or another. Also, if you didn't see MD in the Milwaukee paddock during practice week then you'll not get another chance! Yamaha R1 2003 Honda CBR600f 2003 Ah fair one, I guess it's an incentive for people to buy tickets. The paddock was an interesting place to be but I'd much rather see the race bikes on a good corner or over the mountain. London Paddock is free to get in, but crowded. And you don't see a lot because every other b*gger is there. But there's 37 3/4 miles of track. OK a fair bit is closed off, but lots isn't.

Get an OS map, read the access details on the interweb. You can even get to a fair bit by public transport. Get out of Douglas. Parliament Square/May Hill etc are all good. I'd say the "ordinary bloke" is better catered for at the TT than a lot of sporting events. Last year I watched Josh Brookes' pit disaster from the gate at the end of pitlane. Later on I watched a bit from St Ninians (whilst the missus did some cross-stitch sitting on the traffic island with her back against the bollard... ) For my money to see the course in all it's glory you need to watch 1) in the open (the mountain/the fast bit round by RhenCullen) 2) under the trees (the run into Ramsey, Quarry Bends etc) 3) in the houses (Ramsey, Kirkmichael etc). The second best view[2] is obtained in an orange tabard helping out. Mike [1] You need a mountain course licence for the best view... Aprillia Dorsaduro This was my 23rd year there ....

I did 1390 miles riding round the course including the back rd from Creg & the coast rd from Laxey I always go practice week now probably the last 17 years ...... Only time didn't ride was the Monday afternoon of the first week of practice when it was lashing down went to the smoke (Douglas) on the lash ! I think it looks better on the tele to be honest . ? For close road racing & a sense of speed yr better off at Nw 200 or the Ulster The paddock cool practice week everyone is just a bit more chilled out imho But I go overall just to ride the mountain as fast as I can '92 Very F'kin fast 851/916cc special. Oh and a very ratty old 301 MZ 2 stroke. farmster said: ↑ This was my 23rd year there .... I did 1390 miles riding round the course including the back rd from Creg & the coast rd from Laxey I always go practice week now probably the last 17 years ......

Only time didn't ride was the Monday afternoon of the first week of practice when it was lashing down went to the smoke (Douglas) on the lash ! I think it looks better on the tele to be honest . ? For close road racing & a sense of speed yr better off at Nw 200 or the Ulster The paddock cool practice week everyone is just a bit more chilled out imho But I go overall just to ride the mountain as fast as I can* [emoji3] Click to expand... My 1st TT holiday was in '75, the last 2 years ago since then I've been going over just for the Manx/Classic TT. I've been over for the TT/ManxGP 25 times. *I grew out of that in the late 80's, by then it was getting far too crowded for my liking. Also IMHO the coning off of most of the fast corners has taken away around 80% of the enjoyment of hammering over the mountain.

The old "Mad Sunday" when the mountain section was one way without the cones all the way from the Gooseneck to Creg Ny Ba was always a bit special, but again IMHO it wasn't as good as getting up early and putting in a lap before an early breakfast. I remember getting up at 5am and doing a whole lap without being passed and hardly seeing another bike on the road. Back then the Police weren't popping up everywhere and pointing a hair dryer at you when you were "Making Progress"... Although it's now getting busy the Classic TT/MGP is very much like the TT was when I 1st started going over and... That's why I like it sooooo much. Steve R Lincs Been to 21 TTs and 4 MGP/Classic TTs, still got some places to tick off but I still reckon on a sunny day a fast corner on the mountain is the place to watch. Park at the Creg and take a stroll up to Kates Cottage or continue further if you are feeling energetic, anywhere up to the 32nd is fine with just a radio for company.

Gorseleigh is a great spot, myself and a mate once watched a race from the hedge bottom just past the Marshall's post, which was very interesting indeed. Ballaspur, Ballig, Laurel Bank, Glen Helen are all good, but some are not accessible now. Top of Barregarrow is good, bottom of Barregarrow was better - Dave Jefferies coming through there with his shoulder near to the cottage wall and the suspension bottoming out was magical. Can't go there anymore, but it used to be so popular that there was a butty van in the field on the right opposite the cottage! Rhencullen is a brilliant spot, but it was always packed when I first started going to the TT. I did manage to watch from there a couple of times at the Manx GP some years later. I like Quarry Bends and Ginger Hall too. I've not watched from Schoolhouse, but my mate tells me that Steve Hislop was pretty spectacular round there. Watched from a private garden on May Hill once that was pretty good. Waterworks - limited view but VERY close and exciting, except the day we stood there in the rain for 6 hours and saw nothing but water!

One of the best spots I have been to in recent years is Marown Church Hall on the right side of the course on the 180mph left hander before Crosby. In addition to the elevated view, if you are in the company of ladies who need more than a pack of sandwiches and a hedgerow, there are chairs, superb food and cakes, proper toilets, and a very pleasant lady Vicar. I can't see me ever paying for Fanzone or Grandstand tickets until I'm too old to get to the good spots. A real world lap of the Isle Of Man TT mountain course | Weem A real world lap of the Isle Of Man TT mountain course Added by Weem on August 29, 2013 This was my first ever ride around the IOMTT circuit where I could see. The evening before I toured round it twice, but it was in the pouring rain except in the mountain where it was so foggy that I had about 50ft visibility. A new day and dry boots and I’ was off.

This is a real world ride around the circuit, so I observe speed limits, get stuck in traffic, but it gives me time to look at the sights 🙂 Later in the day I recorded a flying lap (around 45 mins), but the camera failed on me 🙁 I’ll just have to go back and do it again 😀 Below is a time map of the corners. If you see one I’ve missed, not put up, or the time/place is wrong then please let me know 🙂

Question: On which racing circuit would you find Ginger Hall and Kate’s Cottage?
Answer: Isle of Man TT